Developers pay $86,000 for storm water violations at construction site in Garden Valley, Idaho

(Boise, Idaho – April 21, 2009) X Road Development, Inc., Lonnie Bramon, and Terrace Lakes, Inc. have reached an $86,000 settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve alleged storm water violations. The violations occurred at the 27-acre North Ridge Subdivision construction site adjacent to Easley Creek, a tributary to the Payette and Snake Rivers, in Garden Valley, Idaho.

The settlement reached with EPA covered a long list of alleged Clean Water Act violations, including: failure to obtain a Construction General Permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting program and sediment discharge from the construction site into Easley Creek.

“This case once again illustrates the importance of Construction General Stormwater Permits,” said Jim Werntz, EPA’s Idaho state office director. “Without adequate storm water controls, construction sites can erode quickly during winter runoff and spring melt causing loads of sediment to deposit into nearby waters. Keeping sediment from polluting rivers and streams isn’t just a good idea, it’s the law. We’re committed to protecting Idaho’s clean water.”

Developers and/or general contractors need to create and implement a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan which describes how construction storm water will be controlled at the site. It must also demonstrate how the project will prevent sediment and other construction waste from being discharged into nearby streams, rivers or lakes.